Sunday, September 6, 2015

Luck Be a Lady by Meredith Duran (spotlight and GIVEAWAY)






“This flawless novel in the Rules for the Reckless series, set in 1866 London, pivots seamlessly to Catherine Everleigh and Nick O’Shea, lively characters who won readers’ hearts in Lady Be Good…These intelligent, multilayered characters embody the best aspects of this wonderfully indulgent series.”
Publishers Weekly STARRED REVIEW for Luck Be A Lady
 
“Hot on the heels of Lady Be Good comes Catherine Everleigh’s story, and readers know they’ll be in for a fun, sexy and poignant roller coaster ride. Well paced, simmering with sexual tension and peopled with memorable characters, this is a love story to be savored.”
—RT Book Reviews gives TOP PICK HOT REVIEW for Luck Be A Lady
 
The 2015 RITA Award for Historical Romance has been awarded to FOOL ME TWICE, 2nd in the Rules for the Reckless series by Meredith Duran!
Rules for the Reckless #4
Meredith Duran
August 25, 2015
Pocket Books
ISBN: 9781476741369
$7.99
ABOUT LUCK BE A LADY:
LUCK BE A LADY in this fourth sexy novel in the Rules for the Reckless series!
 
THE WALLFLOWER
They call her the “Ice Queen.” Catherine Everleigh is London’s loveliest heiress, but a bitter lesson in heartbreak has taught her to keep to herself. All she wants is her birthright—the auction house that was stolen from her. To win this war, she’ll need a powerful ally. Who better than infamous and merciless crime lord Nicholas O’Shea? A marriage of convenience will no doubt serve them both.
 
THE CRIME LORD
Having conquered the city’s underworld, Nick seeks a new challenge. Marrying Catherine will give him the appearance of legitimacy—and access to her world of the law-abiding elite. No one needs to know he’s coveted Catherine for a year now—their arrangement is strictly business, free from the troubling weaknesses of love. Seduction, however, is a different matter—an enticing game he means to ensure she enjoys, whether she wishes to or not...
 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: MEREDITH DURAN is the author of eight previous novels, including The Duke of Shadows (winner of the Gather.com First Chapters Romance Writing Competition); Wicked Becomes You (included on the Woman’s World List of Best Beach Reads for Summer 2010), and the USA TODAY bestseller Fool Me Twice. She blames Anne Boleyn for sparking her lifelong obsession with British history, and for convincing her that princely love is no prize if it doesn’t come with a happily-ever-after. She enjoys collecting old etiquette manuals, guidebooks to nineteenth-century London, and travelogues by intrepid Victorian women. Visit her at MeredithDuran.com, or catch up with her on Twitter: @meredithduran and Facebook: AuthorMeredithDuran.
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Tour links:


BLOG TOUR
8/24       HEROES & HEARTBREAKERS
8/25       TWO CLASSY CHICS
8/26       BOOKTALK WITH EILEEN
8/28       HARLEQUIN JUNKIE
8/31       LIVE TO READ
9/1         MRS LEIF’S TWO FANGS ABOUT IT
9/2         THE LOVELY BOOKS
9/3         WTF ARE YOU READING
9/4         SIMPLY ANGELA
9/5         COFFEE TIME ROMANCE
9/7         MARTINI TIMES
9/8         BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS
9/9         MICHELLE & LESLIE'S BOOK PICKS
9/10       NIGHT OWL ROMANCE
9/10       THE LUSTY LITERATE
9/11       THE ROMANCE DISH
9/16       CELTIC LADY'S REVIEWS
9/18       ROMANCING RAKES
9/19       RAMBLINGS FROM THIS CHICK
10/2       ASHLEY'S BOOKSHELF


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GIVEAWAY


A set of 3 books, including this one, is available for giveaway, in the United States only.  Winner will be chosen using Randomizer on October 1, 2015, from those who who have left a comment with a valid e-mail address stating what appeals most about historical romances and a favorite author or two. 


Thanks for visiting!


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My review:

4.25 out of 5 stars

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 Luck Be a Lady by Meredith Duran presents the story of Catherine Everleigh, who honors her father’s legacy and indulges her own passion as the guiding force for her family’s renowned auction house.  Unfortunately, her brother does not share her reverence for their inheritance and is determined to pursue his own aims, even if it results in the destruction of the business.  Catherine is desperate enough to enlist the aid of the rogue, Nicholas (Nick) O’Shea, uncle of the woman who disrupted Catherine’s plan for a marriage of convenience.  Nick has his own aspirations, and whether Catherine will help further them remains to be seen, but his unwilling fascination with her and the unholy contract she insists on makes him determined to follow his gut instincts which have guided him all of his life.  His heart, however, may have another plan.



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Despite the fact that I have been humming the song with the same title ever since I started reading this book (earworm, lol), I enjoyed getting a glimpse of historical England that is unlike the fare presented in the usual historical romances that I read.  The fascination with discovering true collector’s pieces and distinguishing them from frauds is nicely portrayed, even as a portrait of the divide between the classes and the conflict between pragmatism and dictates of society is highlighted in the comparison and contrast between Catherine and Nick’s history and current roles.  There is a wealth of detail about various aspects of life during this period of history which enrich this story, which, although connected to previous books, can be read as a stand-alone with no problem.  I enjoyed getting to know these characters and watching Catherine defend her position as a successful businesswoman and I look forward to reading other books by this author.
 

7 comments:

  1. I love the ability to travel back in time through. You can see that time only in the pages of books. It makes for great adventure and romance. I enjoy Suzanne Enoch and Valerie Bowman and I would like to add Meredith Duran but she is new to me.
    debby236 at gmail dot com

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  2. This looks and sounds awesome! Thanks for the great spotlight! I enjoy historical romance b/c it's so fun to be swept back in time and experience romance in more simpler times and methods :) thanks for sharing!

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    1. Hi erin,

      I hope you come back and leave an e-mail address if you want to be part of the drawing!

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  3. I love the flowery language & clothing in historical romance. I love the rules & how they are broken! ;) sharlenewegner@hotmail.com

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  4. I like learning about a past era through a story where there is a guaranteed happy ending. Authors I like include Meredith Duran, Sherry Thomas and Julie James.
    penfield716(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

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  5. Hi Debby, erin, Sharlene, and Kim!

    I apologize for not greeting you earlier. I am a little challenged by trying to get an economical internet service at my MIL's after an acrimonious relationship with the folks at AT&T, so I get REALLY behind in my online tasks. I agree, I love learning about history in this non-painful fashion and I am happy to learn about other authors beloved by you. Some of my favorite historical authors include Stephanie Laurens, Mary Balogh, Sabrina Jeffries, and Amanda Quick (aka Jayne Krentz/Jayne Castle) but there are many more that I enjoy. I appreciate all of you taking the time to visit and I will contact one of my visitors after October 1...provided you leave me a valid e-mail address!

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  6. like the fashion
    Jane Austen

    bn100candg at hotmail dot com

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